Bell Media’s TSN and the Canadian Curling Association (CCA) announced today they are enhancing their partnership with a long-term multimedia rights extension. As part of the new deal, TSN continues to be the home of curling in Canada through to the 2019-20 season with exclusive Canadian rights to Season of Champions events.

The new deal also includes extended French-language coverage on Bell Media’s RDS and RDS2 – ensuring more French-language curling coverage than ever before with 250 hours of Season of Champions coverage. Multiple other components and activation strategies, such as Continental Cup coverage in Olympic years and guaranteed broadcasting of the new Pre-trials Road to the Roar, have been established to help to continue to grow the sport across Canada.

TSN and RDS will deliver live coverage of all Season of Champions events including the TIM HORTONS BRIER, SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS, FORD MEN’S AND WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (in Canada) and MEN’S AND WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (outside of Canada), CAPITAL ONE CANADA CUP, WORLD FINANCIAL GROUP CONTINENTAL CUP, M&M MEAT SHOPS CANADIAN JUNIORS along with enhanced coverage of the CAPITAL ONE ROAD TO THE ROAR and the TIM HORTONS ROAR OF THE RINGS – the Olympic team qualifying tournament leading into the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

“The Canadian Curling Association is absolutely delighted to be announcing that our partnership with TSN has not only been extended, but also further enhanced for the long-term. This is one of the most significant items that the CCA has been able to achieve in our recent history,” said Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer, CCA. “This exclusive broadcast partnership with TSN, and now RDS, has provided an exceptional opportunity to further expose our sport to both existing and potential curling enthusiasts across Canada; grow our already significant programming hours; and ensure comprehensive broadcast stability for the next decade. The fact that approximately 250 hours of Season of Champions coverage will also be shown on French- language television is a wonderful success story for curling.”

The new extension includes a comprehensive suite of multimedia rights, including broadband, mobile, radio and video-on-demand. Both TSN and RDS have committed to leveraging these rights to continue building and growing Canada’s curling audiences, and to reach new and existing fans on Bell Media platforms.

“Curling is one of the top broadcast properties in Canada and has been a cornerstone on TSN since day one. Locking in such a solid audience driver on a long-term extension further strengthens TSN’s leadership in the marketplace for years to come,” said Stewart Johnston, President of TSN. “We are extremely proud that the CCA continues to put their trust in TSN. This early renewal shows their commitment to giving fans industry leading coverage and growing the sport across Canada.”

“RDS is thrilled to be a part of this exclusive deal with the CCA – giving the Francophone community more curling coverage than ever before,” said Gerry Frappier, President of RDS. “We are looking forward to growing the sport by giving fans exceptional coverage.”

TSN - The Sweeping Nation (Photo: Michael Burns Photography)

TSN has been broadcasting curling since the network launched in 1984. The network became the exclusive broadcaster of Season of Champions events in 2008. Since then curling has become one of the most-watched sports on Canadian television registering record television audiences on TSN including:

TSN’s 2011-12 curling coverage begins with the CAPITAL ONE CANADA CUP on December 3 and 4 (see TSN.ca for the full curling broadcast schedule).

TSN’s acclaimed curling coverage is led by the veteran broadcast team of Vic Rauter, Linda Moore and Russ Howard. Over the years, the trio has created a broad and supportive fan base and their names have become synonymous with curling in Canada.

Veteran broadcaster Michel Y. Lacroix and analyst Guy Hemmings will give fans all of the Season of Champions curling action on RDS.

About TSN
TSN is Canada’s Sports Leader and Canada’s most-watched specialty network. Delivering more sports coverage in High Definition than any other network in Canada, TSN’s comprehensive broadcast schedule features an exciting lineup of sports including NHL, CFL, NFL, NBA, MLS, the IIHF World Junior Championship, Season of Champions Curling, Golf’s Majors, F1, NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, Grand Slam Tennis, EURO 2012 and 2016, the Tour de France, NCAA March Madness tournament and Championship Boxing events. TSN properties include TSN2, TSN RADIO 1050, TSN MOBILE and the industry-leading sports website TSN.ca. Official broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games, TSN is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company.

About the CCA
The Canadian Curling Association (CCA) is the national sport governing body responsible for the development, promotion and organization of curling in Canada. In cooperation with its Provincial and Territorial Member Associations from across Canada, the CCA provides programs and services to curlers ranging from the youngest ‘little rocker’ (age 7 and up), to those participating at ages 70 and over – and from aspiring Olympians to Canadians with special needs, coaches, curling facility operators, ice makers and officials.
The CCA also oversees and provides the comprehensive management of the Season of Champions event portfolio; develops and administers the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) for Olympic qualification; and organizes and operates the championship system for Juniors (under 20), Seniors (over 50), Mixed, Women, Men, University and Wheelchair.